jimmypat's review against another edition
2.0
This book was an absolute slog to get through- fairly boring and no real payoff. I enjoyed the first chapter about Sheraton as a young boy, but after that the charm evaporated into lengthy descriptions of fox hunts, random dudes in pink coats, and chestnut horses. Gah. I can’t even imagine reading the other two books in this trilogy, except perhaps during a bout of insomnia.
deborahrosegreen's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
4.0
As the relative of many horse riders and the granddaughter of a man who went to Sandhurst, this story sparked some nostalgia of running around stables and rural life. Sassoon struck me with the line, ‘The fantasies of childhood cannot be analysed or explained in the rational afterthoughts of experienced maturity’ (pg18) which I agree with. Many of the characters are very likeable, including the “protagonist” himself who brings a comedic aspect with his honest reflections about ambition and pride. My particular favourites were Dixon, who was friendly, passionate about sportsmanship and always well-meaning, and Dick, a warm character, cheerful and innocent. The book certainly explores the tragedy of the war and the complexities of the lives changed within it. I recommend this to anyone who loves horses and wants to understand more about the First World War.
cgpc's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
sachab03's review against another edition
5.0
Such a gem of a book, there was something absolutely heart-breaking in his descriptions of the idyllic English countryside knowing the horrors that were to come.
your_true_shelf's review against another edition
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: War and Death
Moderate: Animal cruelty and Animal death
naimfrewat's review against another edition
4.0
Really ended up liking it. The talk about foxhunting and all of the specificities of that sport were daunting in the beginning but they got me reading about foxhunting and the book easily gets the reader in without dwelling too much in the jargon.
I was surprised to ses a lot carefulness is placed in the accessories and fashions pertaining to foxhunting, the writer noticing his fellow sportsmen first by their apparel.
There are beautiful passages on the English countryside and the reader surfs pleasantly throughout though each turn of the page harbors the dark anticipation of what is about to happen.
And so the war comes in late in the book; though the description of it is not gorey or repulsive, I'm glad it didn't receive much pages in this volume (there are 3 more).
The little thar made it, told from the point of view of a logistics officer rather than from that of a man in combat, is enough to prod us into sanctifying diplomacy, talks and dialogue above all else.
I was surprised to ses a lot carefulness is placed in the accessories and fashions pertaining to foxhunting, the writer noticing his fellow sportsmen first by their apparel.
There are beautiful passages on the English countryside and the reader surfs pleasantly throughout though each turn of the page harbors the dark anticipation of what is about to happen.
And so the war comes in late in the book; though the description of it is not gorey or repulsive, I'm glad it didn't receive much pages in this volume (there are 3 more).
The little thar made it, told from the point of view of a logistics officer rather than from that of a man in combat, is enough to prod us into sanctifying diplomacy, talks and dialogue above all else.
ipb1's review against another edition
4.0
Three quarters of this consists of blow-by-blow accounts of fox-hunts and cricket matches. Well, I guess it is what it says on the tin. Still, it is undoubtedly entertaining in its recollection of a way of life on the cusp of extinction. So, mostly a sort of pre-Wodehousian 'tally-ho' ripping yarn, until the last quarter segues abruptly and startlingly into the trenches of WW1 and the territory of Sassoon's own The Last Meeting, Counter-Attack et al.
monere's review against another edition
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0